Jose Mourinho breaks silence on Man Utd brutally axing Sir Alex Ferguson's contract

Jose Mourinho has spoken out about Manchester United terminating Sir Alex Ferguson's ambassadorial contract.

Last week the Athletic reported that United co-owners INEOS had continued their cost-cutting programme by terminating a multi-million pound annual commitment to Ferguson.

Following his exit as manager in 2013, bringing an end to a 26-year reign in which he won 38 trophies, the Scot has been retained as a global club ambassador and club director and paid an annual salary believed to be around £2million.

As per the Athletic, the only description of Ferguson's ambassador role can be seen in their 2014 accounts under the related party transactions section. There United said the veteran manager signed an agreement on October 17, 2013 which saw him become a global ambassador and received £2.16million for his services.

The arrangement continued for over a decade, with Ferguson also remaining a United director on the club’s football board.

On Ferguson having his contract terminated, former United manager Mourinho said: "My relationship with Sir Alex was amazing, incredible and when my Netflix documentary comes out you will know more about the reason why I have so much respect for him.

The ambassadorial role. I don’t know the in depth situation, it doesn’t matter why or what. Sir Alex has the most important thing, which is the love and respect of every Manchester United fan around the world, that is more important than the ambassadorial role or money he doesn’t need.

"The most important thing is the love and the respect that every Manchester United fan has for him."

Mourinho spoke of the deep respect he has for Ferguson (Getty)

United's majority owners the Glazer family had allegedly previously been satisfied to sanction the payments to Ferguson, believing much of the value that the club continues to generate is owed to Ferguson’s work and legacy.

When Ratcliffe watched his first United game in person after agreeing a deal to buy his stake he sat alongside Ferguson in the club’s directors’ box.

“He was the first person I met when I went up there which I think was the second week of January and I had a meeting from 9am to 10am at his house and I left at 1pm,” Ratcliffe said about Ferguson in February. “He never stopped. He’s got a lot of experience, a lot of stories to tell and a lot of thoughts about the club.

“I don’t think he has been encouraged to get involved but he is still very thoughtful about the club and he has an immense amount of experience. He really understands the values and traditions of the club and what it’s all about. He’s still fiercely competitive, Alex Ferguson.”